Coin gauge



Dec. 15, 1936. c. F. BAROTHY COIN GAUGE Filed Dec. 11, 1935 PatentedDec. 15, 1936 iJNlTED STATES Ltttltt PATENT OFFEQE COIN GAUGEApplication December 11, 1935, Serial No. 53,947

5 Claims.

This invention relates to coin gauges and more particularly to coingauges for coin collectors such as those employed at telephone paystations.

One type of telephone pay station coin collector, for example, such asthat disclosed in the U. S. patent to O. F. Forsberg 1,043,219, issued.November 5, 1915, comprises a housing upon which is mounted what iscommonly called a coin gauge comprising a metallic structure with aplurality of openings for receiving coins of different denominations.Associated with each of these openings is a slot for guiding thedeposited coin into the housing for subse- 15 quent collection orrefund, depending upon whether the desired services are secured. A coingauge of this type has heretofore been cast of a relatively soft metaland plated with a harder metal. It has been a relatively expensivearticle 20 to produce, requiring many and widely different operations inits production. The size of each opening into which the coins are placedmust be held to close limits in order to gauge properly each coin formaximum diameter, and/when the 25 gauge is electroplated with a metalsuch as chromium, very careful control of the plating process isrequired to insure that the thickness of the plating is such as to meetmanufacturing limits upon the size of the finished opening and 30provide the necessary protection against wear.

An object of this invention is the provision of an improved multi-partcoin gauge having a construction permitting accurate forming andassembly of the parts with a required structural 35 strength and whichis economical tomanufacture and durable in service.

In accordance with the above object, the invention contemplates, in oneembodiment thereof, as applied to a telephone pay station coin 4ocollector a coin gauge comprising front, rear and center integralsections punched and formed from stainless steel and secured together bywelding. The front or housing section alone serves to gauge the diameterof the coins and the center and rear sections which are assembled as aunit before their assembly with the front section serve to gauge thethickness of the coins independently of the front section. In analternative construction the center section com- 50 prises two punchedand formed parts instead of one.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the followingdetailed description taken in connection with the accompanying 55drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a telephone pay station coincollector of a type capable of employing an improved coin gauge of thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is a front view on an enlarged scale of the coin gaugeillustrated in Fig. l; 5

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the assembled center and rear sectionsbefore the front or housing section is assembled therewith; 1

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sectional views taken along the lines 5'5 and66 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to the section 5-5 of Fig. 2of an alternative construction employing a two-part center section.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 1 wherein there isshown a telephone pay station coin collector of the general typedisclosed in the herein mentioned Forsberg patent, the numeral Illindicates an upper housing for the coin collector having on its upperwall It a coin gauge l2 embodying the features of this invention. Oneembodiment of the coin gauge I2 as shown in Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, hasa plurality of openings in its front wall through which coins ofdifferent denominations, such as five, ten and twenty-five cent piecesmay be deposited for passage through channels, one corresponding to eachof the openings provided in a laterally inclined coin chute l3 (Fig. 1).The coin chute channels guide the coins deposited into the openings inthe coin gauge I2 to mechanism (not shown), which eventually dischargesthe coins either into a cash compartment or a refund tray, dependingupon whether the desired services are secured or not.

The coin gauge l2 (Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive) comprises cooperating front,rear and center sections I6, H and 18, respectively. Each of thesections comprising one integral piece of metal, preferably stainlesssheet steel, produced by suitable blanking, perforating and formingoperations in. accordance with known practices in the art of metalworking. The front section It includes front, top and end walls H3, 20and 2i, respectively, and a foot 24 extending forwardly from the frontwall, the end walls 2| being inclined outwardly at similar angles fromthe top wall 20 to the plane of the lower surface of the foot 24. Formedin the front wall I6 are three coin receiving and diameter gaugingapertures 25, 26 and 21 for five, ten and twenty-five cent pieces,respectively. Each of the apertures 25, 26 and 21 is surrounded by anannular flange 30, 3| and 32, respectively, the innerv peripheral facesof the flanges being flush with the inner faces of the apertures, andeach flange extends rearwardly from the inner face of the front wall l5for a predetermined different distance, the reason for which will bedescribed hereinafter. Each aperture 25, 26 and 21 has a diameter justslightly greater than the diameter of the coin which each opening isdesigned to receive, thus serving to gauge the diameter of the coinsinserted therein.

The center section l8 comprises a plate-like member 33 having threeforwardly extending embossments 35, 31 and 38 formed thereon, which areopen at their lower ends, the embossments being provided at their upperends with apertures 39, 53 and 4!, respectively, substantiallyconcentric with the apertures 25, 26 and 21, respectively, in the frontsection l6. Each of the embossments 35, 3? and 38 extends downwardly ata slight angle from the vertical, each angle differing from the angle ofthe others and at their lower ends the embossments as well as theportions of the plate 33 therebetween extend for a slight distance belowthe plane of the lower face of the foot 25 of the front section [6, asindicated at 42 (Figs. 2 and 5). The lower ends of the embossments andthe portions of the plate 33 therebetween extend into an opening or slot64, indicated in dotted lines (Fig. 5), formed in the upper wall H ofthe coin collector housing Hi, when the assembled coin gauge is securedin position thereon and serve to prevent strips of paper or othermaterial from being inserted under the coin gauge to block the passageof the coins into channels provided in the coin chute l3, which channelscommunicate with the lower open ends of the angular disposedembossments.

The rear section I! comprises a plate-like member 45 having end flanges45, inclined similar to the end walls 24 of the front section [6 andfitting therewithin and a rearwardly extending foot 4! disposed in theplane of the foot 24 of the front section. Formed in the member 45 is asingle embossment 48 having a size and configuration which permits it tofit snugly within the embossment 38 formed in the center section !8(Figs. 3 and 5). The rear and center sections ll and i8, respectively,have a substantially identical configuration along their top and ends,as viewed in front elevation, the center section l3 being slightlysmaller than the rear section, as indicated at 49 (Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6)and, as described hereinbefore, the lower end of the center sectionextends below the front and rear sections along its bottom. Theperipheral edge face of the rear section I I along its top and ends fitssnugly against the inner continuous face of the top 25 and end walls 2!of the front section l6.

It will be observed, referring particularly to Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive,that the height or distance that each of the embossments 3G, 31 and 38is' raised or extended from the front face of the plate 33 differs inthe case of each embossment and in assembled relation the rear face ofthe plate 33 comprising the center section l8 abuts the front face ofthe plate 45 comprising the rear section ll. Thus the cooperating spacedrear faces of the embossments 33 and 31 and the front face of the plate45 provide channels 52 and 53 for the passage of five and ten centpieces inserted into the coin gauge through the apertures 25 and 26,respectively. Likewise the spaced rear face of the embossment 38 and thefront face of the embossment 38 on the rear section I! provide a channel54 for the passage of twenty-five cent pieces inserted into the coingauge through the aperture 21. The spacing between the opposed facesforming each of the channels 52, 53 and 54 are slightly greater than thethickness of the coin which each channel is designed to receive, thechannels thus serving to gauge the thickness of coins passing thereinto.It will also be observed that the twenty five cent channel 54 isarranged forwardly of the five and ten cent channels 52 and 53,respectively, which are in substantial alinement. This is so in orderthat the completed coin gauge [2 may be employed in conjunction with theparticular coin chute l3 used in the coin collector of the general typedisclosed in the hereinbefo-re mentioned Forsberg patent.

The annular flanges 30, 3! and 32 surrounding the apertures 25, 26 and21, respectively, of the front section It and which extend rearwardlyfrom the inner face thereof, abut at their annular edges, in the case ofthe flanges 30 and 3!, the outer faces of the embossments and 3?surrounding the apertures 33 and 5B, respectively, and in the case ofthe flange 32 the end thereof is entered in the aperture 3! of theembossment 38, when the front section is assembled with the center andrear sections. The different lengths, hereinbefore described, of theflanges 3!], 3i and 32 it will be apparent are necessary due to thediflerent distances the outer faces of the embossments 35, 3i and 33 arefrom the outer face of the center plate 33. The flanges 33, 3| and 32serve as means for guiding the coins inserted through the apertures 25,26 and 2! into the downwardly extending channels 52, 53 and 54communicating therewith, respectively. At the lower open ends of theembossments 36, 31 and 38 the front walls thereof are slightly flared(Figs. 5 and 6) to provide greater clearance at these points to insurethe passage of the coins from the channels 52, 53 and 54 into the coinchute channels arranged therebelow.

To insure that the coins inserted in the apertures 25 and 26 and guidedinto the downwardly extending channels 52 and 53 by the flanges 3G and3|, respectively, will freely pass intothe channels without meetingobstruction from the annular edge faces of the apertures 39 and 40 ofthe embossments 36 and 31, respectively, the latter apertures are madeslightly greater in diameter than the apertures 25 and 25, as clearlyshown in Figs. 2, r, and 6. In assembling the front section IS with thecenter and rear sections I8 and I1, respectively, the inner peripheraledge faces of the flanges 30 and 31 are arranged flush with the similarfaces of the apertures 39 and 49, respectively, at their lowermostpoints. This arrangement provides a continuous flush surface for thefive and ten cent coins to slide upon from their entrance into theapertures 25 and 26 until they drop into the channels 52 and 53,respectively. Since the flange 32 for guiding the twenty-five cent coinsis entered in the aperture 4! of the embossment 38 the above describedprovision for insuring the" free passage of the five and ten cent coinsis not necessary. Struckout from the front wall of the embossment 38 atthe left side of the center section is a small embossment 55 serving asa stop member which in assembling the front section with the center andrear sections abuts the inner face of the front section and is eifectiveto position them in parallel alinement during assembly. The abuttingannular edges of the flanges 39 and Si of the front section and theouter faces of the embossments 35 and 3'4, respectively, on the centersection it will be apparent serve the same purpose at the right side ofthese sections as the stop member 55 at the left side thereof.

In order to facilitate attaching the coin gauge l2 to the top wall H ofthe upper housing If] and over the slot M the feet 24 and i'i of thefront and rear sections it and I1, respectively, are provided withapertures 56 (Fig. 3) which register with apertures formed in thehousing wall through which apertures, screws, bolts or rivets areextended to secure the coin gauge in position. The apertures 56 in therear section are elongated to take care of slight variations in thedistance between these apertures and the apertures in the front sectionafter the coin gauge has been assembled, which might vary from thespacing between the corresponding apertures in the housing wall l l.

Small perforations 51 are provided in the rear plate e5 opposite thecoin receiving apertures 25, 25 and 2'? of the front section H5 in orderto facilitate the removal of any slug or coin which become wedged in thegauge.

The front face of the rear plate 55 has depressed therein characters 62,such as numerals 5, and 25, which are visible through the coin receivingopenings 25, 2E and 27, respectively, to indicate the five, ten andtwenty-five cent openings in the gauge, the depressed surfaces of thecharacters being filled in or colored, for instance, with a blackenamel, or other finish, to set the characters out against thesurrounding stainless steel surface of the plate 45.

In assembling the front, rear and center sections it, if and 83,respectively, to complete the coin gauge 52 the rear and center sectionsare first brought into abutting relation, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, inwhich position the embossment S8 of the rear section is entered in theembossment 33 of the center section and the peripheral edge face of thecenter section will be positioned slightly inside the similar face ofthe rear section, as indicated at 49 (Fig. 2). The center and rearsections while thus related and held by suitable clamping means are thenpermanently attached or united at a plurality of points by spot welding,as indicated at 6!! (Fig. 4:). Thereafter the front section I6 isclamped in a suitable manner with the required pressure against theassembled center and rear sections with the coin guiding flanges 30, 3|and 32 thereof abutting or alined, as hereinbefore described, with theapertures 39, 40 and M, respectively, of the center section, theperipheral edge face of the rear section along its top and ends fittingsnugly against the inner continuous face of the top 28 and end walls 2!of the front section. While so related the end flanges 45 of the rearsection H are permanently attached or united to the end walls 2i of thefront section It at both ends of the assembly at a plurality of pointsby spot welding, as indicated at 6! (Fig. 6). This completes theassembly of the coin gauge and thereafter it is polished and buffed onthe top, sides, front and top of front foot and the back surface of therear section may be given a coat of black enamel.

In Fig. '7 another embodiment of the invention is illustrated, whereincenter and rear sections 63 and 6 of the coin gauge at the twenty-fivecent coin portion thereof are constructed differently than theseportions in the structure shown in Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive. The rearsection 64 in Fig. 7 is not embossed as in the previously described coingauge structure to form the rear wall of a downwardly extending cointhickness gauging channel 65. Instead the center section 63 is embossed,as indicated at 66, to a plane identical to that of the embossment 48 onthe rear section of the first embodiment. To provide the front Wall ofthe channel 65 a short plate 61 extending across the twentyfive centportion and to the adjacent end of the gauge is welded to the centersection 63, the plate 61 being embossed, as indicated at 68, to a planeidentical to that of the embossment 38 on the center section of thefirst embodiment. A perforation 69 is formed in the wall of theembossment 58 in line with the perforation 51 provided in the rearsection hereinbefore described and for a similar purpose. Other than thenoted differences in construction the two described coin gauges and themethod of producing them are identical.

It is evident that coin gauges constructed, as above described, from aplurality of sections formed from stainless sheet steel molecularlyunited into an integral structure will have a required strength, thestruck out embossments on the center and rear sections serving inaddition to their described functions for adding rigidity to theassembly. Also the sections may be inexpensively formed by simple punchpress operations and readily assembled and welded together. In additionby fabricating them from stainless sheet steel great wearing qualitywill result. Furthermore, due to the fact that the front section alonegauges the diameter of the coins while the center and rear sections,which are assembled as a unit before their assembly with the frontsection, gauges: the thickness of the coins independently of the frontsection, an accurate construction and assembly of the parts isfacilitated.

Although the embodiments of this invention as herein illustrated anddescribed are particularly well adapted for use in connection withtelephone pay station coin collectors, it should be understood that theinvention is capable of other applications and should be limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A coin gauge comprising united front, rear and center sectionspunched and formed from sheet metal, said front section having a coinreceiving and diameter gauging aperture, said center section abuttingsaid rear section and having an embossment formed thereon pro- Videdwith an aperture substantially concentric with the aperture in saidfront section, the opposed spaced faces of the rear section and that ofthe embossment on said center section forming a channel of predetermineddepth communicating by means of the aperture in the embossment with thecoin diameter gauging aperture for gauging the thickness of coinspassing thereinto.

2. A coin gauge comprising united front, rear and center sectionspunched and formed from sheet metal, said front section including front,top and end walls, the front wall thereof having a coin receiving anddiameter gauging aperture therein, said rear and center sections beingan assembled unit before the front section is united thereto, comprisinga rear plate having end flanges fitting within and united to the endWalls of the front section, and a center plate abutting the rear plateand having a vertically extending embossment thereon provided with anaperture at its upper end substantially concentric with the aperture insaid front section, the opposed faces of the rear plate and theembossment on said center plate forming a channel of predetermined depthcommunicating by means of the aperture in the embossment with the coindiameter gauging aperture for gauging the thickness of coins passingthereinto.

3. A coin gauge comprising united front, rear and center sectionspunched and formed from sheet metal, said front section having aplurality of spaced coin receiving and diameter gauging apertures and acoin guiding flange surround ing each of the apertures, said rear andcenter sections being united in abutting relation and having forwardlyextending embossments of pre determined difierent depths formed thereon,each of the embossments on the center section being provided with anaperture substantially concentric with one of the apertures and itssurrounding flange in said front section, the opposed spaced faces ofthe rear section and those -of the embossments on said center sectionforming channels communicating by means of the apertures in theembossments with the coin diameter gauging apertures for gauging thethickness of coins passing thereinto.

4. A coin gauge comprising united front, rear and center sectionspunched and formed from sheet metal, said front section having aplurality of spaced coin receiving and diameter gauging apertures and acoin guiding flange flush with the inner surface of each of theapertures, said rear and center sections being united in abuttingrelation, the center section having forwardly extending embossments ofpredetermined different depths formed thereon, each provided with anaperture substantially concentric with the apertures in said frontsection, the rear edge faces of two of said flanges abutting forwardfaces of the corresponding embossments on said center section, the thirdflange on said front section being entered in the aperture of itscorresponding embossment, a forwardly extending embossment formed on thelatter embossment abutting the rear face of said front section, theabutting faces of the embossments, edge faces of said flanges and therear face of said front section cooperating as stop surfaces inassembling and uniting the sections, the opposed faces of the rearsection and those of the embossments on said center section formingchannels communicating by means of the apertures in the embossments withthe coin diameter gauging apertures for gauging the thickness of coinspassing thereinto.

5. A coin gauge comprising united front, rear and center sections, saidfront section having a coin receiving and diameter gauging aperture anda coin guiding flange flush with the inner surface of the aperture andabutting the forward face of said center section, said center sectionabutting said rear section and having an embossment formed thereonprovided with an aperture designed and arranged for receiving a coinpassing thereinto from the aperture and flange of said front section,the opposed spaced faces of the rear section and that of the embossmenton said center section forming a channel of predetermined depth forgauging the thickness of coins passing thereinto from the aperture inthe embossment.

CHARLES F. BAROTHY.

